What Does The Bible Say About Fear?

by Alonzo Gaskill

woman looking down

We live in a fearful age, where more and more people are struggling with anxieties, issues of trust, and a general sense of worry. Never, in the history of the world, has there been a time when more people say that they live in day-to-day fear about the future, about finances, about relationships, and about personal failure.

Of course, Christianity is entirely about achieving success; not so much “worldly success,” but success in the things that matter most. And the Christian message is well captured in the words of the Apostle Paul, who wrote: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (BRG Philippians 4:13) Yes, we can do all things—including overcoming fear—if we “yoke” ourselves with Christ. So, let’s look as some of what the Bible teaches about fear, where it comes from, and how we can change our paradigm when we are confronted with those things which most cause us to fear.”

There are a number of things which can cause anxiety attacks, and the subsequent fear that arises because of them. The Bible actually offers a couple of bits of counsel on this common malady, and how we can deal with it. The Apostle Peter wrote: “Throw all your anxieties upon [the Lord], because he cares about you.” (CJB 1 Peter 5:7) Peter wouldn’t necessarily have said that a good therapist was a bad thing. However, in this verse he indicates that God cares deeply for us. Thus, rather than retaining our anxieties and trying to survive living with them, we should “cast them” upon the Lord, because He, better than us, can bear the burdens of anxiety which cause us so much fear. King David appears to have discovered the very thing that Peter was teaching, as David wrote: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (ESV Psalm 34:4) Joshua (Moses’ successor) felt anxiety because he had been called to succeed Moses as the leader of God’s chosen people. In response to that fear-filled anxiety, the Lord spoke: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (ESV Joshua 1:9) If the Lord is with you always, what have you to fear? Finally, the counsel of Jesus’ is perfect for those struggling with anxiety and its consequent fears. He said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (NIV John 14:27) Jesus can calm our troubled hearts, particularly when we are anxious and fearful. If we keep our minds focused on Him, the worries of the world often fade away.

As it relates to fears of failure, in life, work, school, or otherwise, the Lord counseled: “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’” (NIV Isaiah 41:13) One reason we fear is that we think our success is in our own hands and, knowing ourselves as we do, we see failure therefore as the obvious outcome of whatever we do. However, if we can remember that God is willing to take us by the hand and help us, we have less reason to fear. Only a few chapters later, Isaiah records words that feel very applicable to the fears of failure that so many of us experience. “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.” (NIV Isaiah 54:4) One can see in these words the promise of the Lord that He will not allow us to utterly humiliate ourselves. For, “we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God.” (NLT Romans 8:28) So, “Fear not, for [God is] with you; be not dismayed, for [He is] your God; [and He] will strengthen you, …help you, [and] will uphold you with [His] righteous right hand.” (ESV Isaiah 41:10)

On a related note, the fear of failure is often wrapped up in the concern over being able to provide for oneself or one’s family. The Lord has said:

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For…your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (NIV Matthew 6:28-34)

Jesus is essentially inviting us to ask ourselves, “Has he ever let me down? Has he ever let me starve to death or go without sufficient clothes to cover myself?” Of course, the answer is “No!” So, why fear that God will abandon you? He knows what you need and, if you “seek first…his righteousness,” He will ensure that you have all that you need to survive. So, “fear not!”

In this era of the internet and social media, the viciousness of those online is such that many of us fear what other people might do to us. Indeed, we’ve become a “cancel culture” society who sees as the answer to any disagreement the destruction of the person who dares to disagree. However, the Bible offers repeated advice about the fear of other people. King David knew something about the “fear of men.” As a king, he and his kingdom were constantly under threat. And yet, he knew where to place his trust. In the 27th psalm, David wrote: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” (NIV Psalm 27:1-3) Passage after passage in the Bible tells us to not fear what other people can do to us. For example, the Book of Hebrews states: “I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (NIV Hebrews 13:6) Peter likewise counseled: “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” (NIV 1 Peter 3:14) Moses gave us this advice: “Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD…will never leave you nor forsake you.” (NIV Deuteronomy 31:6) In the Psalms we read: “What can mere mortals do to me?” (NIV Psalm 118:6; See also Psalm 56:4) The Prophet Isaiah taught: “Say to those who are of a fearful heart, …‘Here is your God. He will come… and save you.” (NRSV Isaiah 35:4) And Jesus wisely admonished us: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (NIV Matthew 10:28) In other words, the temporary things that “mean people” might do or say to us mean nothing in comparison to what the devil wishes to do. So, we should keep our eyes on the things which are eternal and not allow the devil to do the ultimate harm to us. Thus, Proverbs 29 wisely reminds us, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” (ESV Proverbs 29:25) Satan uses our fears to get us to forget God or to not trust in Him. It is a trap that can destroy our souls. Consequently, we need to stop fearing people, trust constantly in God, and know what the devil’s goals are. If we can keep all of that in mind, we run less of a risk of getting caught up in the debilitating fears so common in our day.

Addiction is a real and present danger in our world today. Drugs, pornography, even shopping can be addictions with destructive consequences. The Bible offers a word or two on this aspect of fear as well. In the 46th Psalm we are told: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” (NIV Psalms 46:1-3) Those battling addictions know firsthand the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness that come from being addicted. The feeling that the ground is about to give way beneath your feet (as your life falls apart), or the sense that the metaphorical waves of the sea are unrelentingly crashing in on you as the consequences for your choices pound you; these are images that the addict can easily relate to. However, King David reminds us that “God is our refuge” (or protection) amid the storms of life. Even in our “troubles,” He is “ever-present” and desirous to help us. So, “trust in the Lord” and he will “help and shield” you. (NIV Psalm 115:11) While God will likely not remove overnight an addiction that took us years to develop, the Apostle Paul reminds us: “God’s Spirit doesn’t make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power…and self-control.” (CEV 2 Timothy 1:7) In other words, we should face our fears, including the fears of our addictions, and know that God can endow us with “power” and “self-control” so that we, though Him, can overcome the very things which threaten to destroy us.

The fear of death is one of the most common emotions of human beings. We all know of someone who has died, and we will all die ourselves. Tolstoy once noted: “Man cannot possess anything as long as he fears death. But to him who does not fear it, everything belongs.” In the spirit of that wise insight, the 23rd Psalm famously declares: “Even though I wander through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you Lord are at my side, …and…comfort me.” (NCB Psalm 23:4) That “shadow of death” will pass upon all of us at some point. We can fear it and feel anxious about it but, if we walk with the Lord, He will comfort us, and we will have no cause to fear. Indeed, an understanding of God’s plan for our lives can alleviate just about any fear we can have, as that knowledge can give us an eternal perspective about anything we are called to bear.

Perhaps the saved Christian is fearless as it relates to death and the afterlife, but most of the world doesn’t feel that same confidence, and many Christians also lack that sense of assurance. However, the Apostle Paul reminds us, “God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father.” (CEV Romans 8:15) Paul’s point is largely this: if we have a relationship with God, and if we have faith in Christ, then we don’t live like a slave who is in constant fear of his master. Rather, we see God as being more like a remarkably loving and gentle father who would do anything for his child. Thus, Isaiah encourages us: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” (NIV Isaiah 43:1) This wording is beautiful. It evidences God’s love for us. We belong to Him. He has already “redeemed” us—or bought us back. We have nothing to fear, for He knows us by name, He values us greatly, and He loves us deeply! God has more grace and mercy than you and I have sins! Thus, in death, we have nothing to fear!

Finally, in the Book of 1 John, we learn something important about fear. The Apostle wrote: “A real love for others will chase those worries away. The thought of being punished is what makes us afraid. It shows we have not really learned to love.” (CEV 1 John 4:18) The Amplified Bible renders this verse as follows: “There is no fear in love; dread does not exist. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves the expectation of divine punishment, so the one who is afraid of God’s judgment is not perfected in love—or has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love.” In every aspect of fear—whether caused by anxieties, failure, the unkindness of others, addiction, or even death—we worry because we doubt God’s love and His loving care for us. When we learn to see God for who He truly is, then we have no reason to fear because we will know the end goal of all that He allows to happen in our lives. In the words of Jesus, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you His kingdom.” (KJV Luke 12:32)

Bible Verses about Overcoming Fear

(CJB 1 Peter 5:7): “Throw all your anxieties upon [the Lord], because he cares about you.”
(ESV Psalm 34:4): “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
(ESV Joshua 1:9): “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed...”
(NIV John 14:27): “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you... Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
(NIV Isaiah 41:13): “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’”
(NIV Matthew 6:28-34): “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow... But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
(NIV Psalm 27:1-3): “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
(NIV Psalms 46:1-3): “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way...”
(NCB Psalm 23:4): “Even though I wander through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you Lord are at my side...”
(CEV 1 John 4:18): “A real love for others will chase those worries away...”

2/8/2024 7:22:17 PM

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About Alonzo L. Gaskill, PhD

Alonzo L. Gaskill is a Professor of Church history and doctrine. He holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy, a masters in theology, and a PhD in biblical studies.